Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1887-11-11

"There are not more than three hum
dred of the yellow rascals," mused the
spy. "Lord wouldn't like to see some
of our cavalry come along? They would
take the place in the twinklin g OF an
eye"
Just then two soldiers came along.
and lifting Pierre in their arms, carried
him to the center of the plaza. The
captive at first thought that his hour
had come, but the men proceeded in sui
len silence TO tie him TO the mouth OF the
solitary cannon, an old-fashioned
FOUNDER, pointed at the vacant
side of the square. They lashed him
with his breast to the muzzle of the gun
so securely that it was impossible for
him TO move.
Pierre thought OF the brutal British
fashion of blowing Indian rebels from
the mouths of cannon, and wondered
whether he was to be served in the same
way.
1T will be talked about all over Mex
ico, said Colonel Campos coming up.
"The French will get it into their heads
that they are all to be treated IN this
way, and very few will be willing
to face such a DEATH"
"Comrade,' said Pierre to one Of the
soldiers, after the colonel had gone,
"does he mean it,"
when the MONDAY sun strikes that"
replied the soldier, sit will be all over"
Pierre looked, and noted an iron
framework over the breech of the gun.
On the top of this was a round object so
bright and da zzling that it made his
eyes blink.
Il do not understand" he said.
"The burning glass there" explained
the soldier, "is so placed that it fires the
powder exactly at noon. 1t never fails"
The victim shuddered. There was
something horrible in the idea of being
killed by the bright lumnary whose
rays had all his life given him light and
warmth.
. lie knew that even in the large cities
of Mexico what was called the midday
gun was fired in this ingenious fashion
during the dry season. For six months
in the year there was never cloud in
the sky and the action OF the lens was
as sue as fate itself.
The guard paced up and down his
beat, and Pierre was left to his medita-
tions.
lie struggled until his strength was
gone, trying to loosen his bonds, but it
was useless.
! His head fell upon his breast. and he
closed his eyes. But he could not calm
himself, and he again looked around the
/ square. All of the soldiers were march.
ing off with the exception of one COM
pany. 1t was evident that the French
were not supposed to be in the neigh
| borhOOd
stranger things have happened"
thought Pierre. 81 may yet be rescued"
His eyes turned upward, and lie saw
/ that the sun was almost directly over
head.
lie glanced down the gun to the prim-
ing, and it seemed to him that he could
hear the fizzing noise Of the powder.
The sun was intensely hot, and this
inspired terror.
Saints above!" groaned the poor
wretch con such day as this the gun
will go off ahead of time"
What did it matter? > few minutes
would not save him. The glass shone
with an Internal brilliancy, and not
speck of cloud was to be seen.
"If do get out Of this" grunted
Pierre.
He did not say what he would do.
There was no use in making any prom
ises.
Higher and higher in the heavens
moved the flaming orb. Surely il was
noon.
The half fainting prisoner held his
breath. The muscles Of his face twitch-
ed nervously and his eyes were fixed
with an intense stare upon the other end
of the gun.
Like an echo came familiar sound
waited upon the mountain breeze.
"Godw gasped the miserable man
through his pallid lips.
Was il bugle? Even if ii was, i: was
too late II relief came it would have
TO be at once.
Louder, clearer, sounded the triumph
ant note, giving forth the sweetest ring
that the listener had ever heard. He
threw his head back, and the light Of
hope and courage danced in his eyes.
"The devil" he shouted; "whether |
am saved or not, these yellow dogs will
soon bite the dust |"
The Mrxicans heard the French bu-
giles. and in another moment Quinquam-
DO was in tumult Of disorder.
But the defenders Of the town, weak
ened by the departure Of their comrades
in the morning, were unable to cope
with anything like a strong force, and
no sooner did the French dash through
the outposts than the Mexicans fed TO
the woods, fully half of them being shot
Gown before they reached the shelter.
/ Pierre's bonds were cut by trooper,
who, with three whacks Of his saber, set
the prisoner free.
To Pierre's immeasurable qualification
Colonel Campos and his command had
been captured on the way and brought
/ TO town by the riders.
81 must see him" " said the sDy: 81